National Farm Safety and Health Week runs September 19–25, 2027, timed for the busy harvest season when long days and heavy machinery raise the risks. The National Safety Council started it, and every president since 1944 has proclaimed it.
Third Week of September
Every September, it fills the month’s third week. In 2015 it was observed September 20 to 26, and in 2026 its daily topics ran Monday, September 21, through Friday the 25th.
Leadership now sits with NECAS, the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety. It’s the safety council’s farm partner.
Universities and state agencies spread the word. Minnesota’s UMASH center and Washington’s labor department both post the daily topics.
A Tradition Since 1944
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first proclamation in 1944. Every sitting president since has proclaimed the week, according to Washington’s labor department.
For decades, the National Safety Council produced the materials. Later they moved to NECAS, which has served farm communities since 1997, Ohio State’s ag safety program notes.
Themes give each year a hook. Ohio State’s 2015 materials used “Ag Safety is Not Just a Slogan, It’s a Lifestyle,” and 2025’s theme was “Safety First, Avoid the Worst.”
Start days vary in practice. Some recent schedules list Sunday to Saturday, while 2025 and 2026 programs began on Monday.
Why Farm Safety Needs a Week
Harvest is when the danger peaks. In its 2025 materials, UMASH still called agriculture the most dangerous sector in America.
Numbers back that up. Using 2019 federal data, UMASH counted 573 deaths in the sector, a rate of 23.1 per 100,000 workers.
Ohio State put the toll at about 500 deaths a year, citing 2013 Labor Department figures.
Workplace deaths across all U.S. industries reached 5,070 in 2024, a rate of 3.3 per 100,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
Even though the years differ, the farm rate was about seven times the 2024 all-industry rate.
Each weekday tackles a different risk. In 2025, Monday covered equipment and rural roads, Thursday confined spaces such as grain bins, and Friday ATVs and UTVs.
Washington’s 2026 schedule swapped in cancer prevention on Friday. Tuesday covered health and wellness in both years.
Wednesday’s “Generations of Farming” theme stayed on the schedule both years as well.
Rural roads are a shared risk. Equipment and roadway safety opened the week in both 2025 and 2026, a reminder for anyone who meets a slow tractor at harvest time.
Safety Steps for Harvest
Most farm safety comes down to habits. The week is a good time to review them with family members and hired workers before the busiest days arrive.
- Use lights and a slow-moving vehicle emblem on tractors that travel public roads.
- Slow down and give farm equipment room when you drive in rural areas.
- Never enter a grain bin alone or while it’s being unloaded, and tell someone before you go in.
- Keep children away from working machinery and out of tractor cabs during field work.
- Check that tractor rollover protection and seat belts are in place before the first harvest run.
- Wear a helmet on ATVs and UTVs, and skip passengers on single-rider models.
- Take breaks and get enough sleep during harvest, since tired operators make mistakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who leads National Farm Safety and Health Week?
An agricultural safety education center that partners with the safety council.
Why is it held in September?
Harvest keeps farmers busiest then.
Do I need to farm to take part?
No. Drivers on rural roads can help by sharing the road patiently and passing with care.
Is there a theme every year?
Yes. Organizers pick a new slogan each time, and daily topics can change too.